Gas Flame Distribution Unit

ABSTRACT

Flames pass through a gas flame distribution unit that includes a plurality of metal rods or tubes, where the metal rods or tubes have varying lengths and are welded together at varying angles and pitches.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of fireplaces, and morespecifically toward a gas flame distribution unit. Flames pass throughan assembly that includes a plurality of metal tubes, where the metaltubes have varying lengths and are welded together at varying angles.

Fireplaces continue to see modernization, including the use ofartificial logs made from ceramic or refractory cement mixture that hasbeen designed to withstand the high heats of a gas burner. Theseartificial logs can be designed to resemble real wood such that thefireplace appears to be burning real wood. However, there is also ademand for fireplaces that provide for flames passing through a gasflame distribution unit that is an aesthetically please alternative totraditional gas logs for use in gas fed fireplaces.

Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a gas flame distributionunit that provides a modern look.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention provides just such a solution by having anaesthetically pleasing gas flame distribution unit. Flames pass throughan assembly that includes a plurality of metal tubes, where the metaltubes have varying lengths and are welded together at varying angles.

Metal tubes or rods of varying length are welded together at variousangles to form a “criss/cross” pattern of different pitches and anglesto form a gas flame distribution unit. The gas flame distribution unitis affixed, secured to, or otherwise rested upon or within thefireplace.

It is an object of the invention to provide an aesthetically pleasinggas flame distribution unit.

It is another object of the invention to provide a non-ceramic ornon-refractory cement mixture gas flame distribution unit.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture. The term “angle” refers to a rotational displacement in oneaxis, while the term “pitch” refers to a rotational displacement in anaxis perpendicular to that of a reference angle.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed hereinand other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome better understood with reference to the following description andappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas flame distribution unit accordingto selected embodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gas flame distribution unit accordingto other selected embodiments of the current disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with thereferences made to the drawings below. The components in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed uponclearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover,like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through theseveral views in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a gas flame distribution unit according toselected embodiments of the current disclosure. The gas flamedistribution unit 10 includes a plurality of metal rods 11 at differentangles and pitches. Each metal rod 11 is secured to another rod 11 bywelding at a weld point 12. During use, the gas flame distribution unit10 sits on top of support material 20, including without limitationglass stones or crystals, cement, rock, and artificial embers.Alternatively, the gas flame distribution unit 10 is affixed directly toa burner or flame spreader.

The metal rods are shown with a circular cross section in FIG. 1. Inalternative embodiments, the rods have a non-circular cross section,such as a triangle, square, pentagon, or other shape. Instead of a solidrod, a tube (hollow rod) may be used. When a metal tube is employed, themetal tube may include one or more holes or cutouts to furtherdistribute an incident flame.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gas flame distribution unit accordingto other selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The gas flamedistribution unit 30 includes a plurality of metal rings 31 at differentangles and pitches. Each metal ring 31 is secured to at least one otherring 31 by welding at a weld point 32. During use, the gas flamedistribution unit 30 sits on top of support material 20, includingwithout limitation glass stones or crystals, cement, rock, andartificial embers. Alternatively, the gas flame distribution unit 30 isaffixed directly to a burner or flame spreader.

The metal rings are shown with a rectangular cross section in FIG. 2. Inalternative embodiments, the rings have a non-rectangular cross section,such as a circle, triangle, pentagon, or other shape. Instead of a solidcross section, the ring may be hollow to form a tubular structure. Thehollow ring may also include one or more holes or cutouts to furtherdistribute an incident flame.

Alternative embodiments of the current disclosure include gas flamedistribution units with a plurality of metal rods, metal rings, and/orother metal elements where each metal element is welded to at least oneof the other metal elements. Hollow elements may include one or moreholes or cutouts to further distribute the incident flame, both withinand outside of the element.

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of theinvention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure ismade by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto arepossible without departing from the subject matter coming within thescope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof,which claims are regarded as the invention.

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

what I claim is:
 1. A gas flame distribution unit comprising a pluralityof rods, where each rod is welded to at least one other metal rod, whereeach rod is at a different angle, a different pitch, or both.
 2. The gasflame distribution unit of claim 1, wherein each rod consists of ametal.
 3. The gas flame distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the crosssection of each rod is circular.
 4. A gas flame distribution unitcomprising a plurality of tubes, where each tube is welded to at leastone other metal tube, where each tube is at a different angle, adifferent pitch, or both.
 5. The gas flame distribution unit of claim 1,wherein each tube consists of a metal.
 6. The gas flame distributionunit of claim 1, wherein the cross section of each tube is circular.